Storage Power Plants – Surge Current at a Push of the Button

Within but a few minutes, storage power plants unfold their power, providing our electricity grid with an additional surge to cover peak load.

How does a Storage Power Plant Work?

The basic equipment of every storage power plant is a storage lake or reservoir. In the alpine mountain range, i.e. in the valleys in front of a water-retaining structure, storage lakes are formed through the accumulation of glacier and precipitation waters. In lower regions, the reservoirs are usually fed by a canal from a nearby river. Via pressure shafts, the stored water precipitates into the depth at a speed of more than 100 km/h and subsequently drives the turbines located in a lower level power house. The generator converts the rotary motion thus created in electricity.

What advantages does electricity generation in storage power plants offer?

Storage power plants utilise the natural influx coming from the surrounding brooks.

Dam Safety

The safety of the dam is an important issue. VERBUND dams are among the best monitored constructions in Austria. The key to safety lies in a robust construction method, as well as the extensive observation of each plant via automatic sensors and our own employees on site.

Please refer here for further information regarding the safety of VERBUND plants.

Contact

Look behind the scenes

VERBUND, as the largest domestic producer of hydroelectricity, offers a view behind the scenes of electricity generation during excursions, be it visitor centres on the Danube or the Mur rivers or the large plants located in the Alps. The perfect blend of technology, nature and hydropower constitutes the forte.